At a news conference Friday evening, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said authorities have recovered a shotgun consistent with the weapon that was used to kill Jayme's parents, James, 56, and Denise, 46, during Jayme's abduction Oct. 15.

Other firearms were recovered in the search of the home in a wooded neighborhood near Gordon, where Jayme was believed to be held during the 88 days she was missing.

Patterson, 21, was familiar with the city of Barron, where Jayme's family lived, and targeted her specifically, police said. Authorities did not provide details of why he targeted her or how he became aware of her address.

Jake Patterson, 21, was arrested on kidnapping and first degree murder charges after Wisconsin teen Jayme Closs was found alive.(Photo: Barron County Sheriff's Department)

Authorities said there is no evidence that Jayme, 13, or her parents knew Patterson before the crime was committed. Police have found no evidence that any of them communicated on social media.

Jayme was reunited with her aunt Friday afternoon, Fitzgerald said. "She is doing as well as circumstances allow," he added.

Patterson had no criminal history. Neither he nor the Town of Gordon, where Jayme was found, were the focus of the investigation until Jayme escaped Thursday afternoon, Fitzgerald said.

Patterson was not inside the home when Jayme fled, Fitzgerald said. Police believe he may have been driving around looking for her when an officer spotted the car that matched a description that Jayme provided. The officer pulled it over and arrested Patterson, police said.

"That is the will of kid to survive," Fitzgerald said at Friday's news conference.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up a photo of the suspect in custody in the kidnapping of Jayme Closs, 13, during a news conference at the Sheriff's Department on Friday. Jayme was found near the Town of Gordon in northern Wisconsin on Thursday. She had been missing since Oct. 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise, 46, were found shot to death in their home outside Barron. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Members of the media attend a news conference at the Barron County Sheriff's Department on Friday where Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald spoke about Jayme Closs being found and a suspect in the case being arrested. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Jeanne Nutter speaks to the media on Friday in Gordon. Nutter was walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest on Thursday when she encountered Jayme Closs coming out of nearby woods. Getty Images

Kristin and Peter Kasinkas and Jeanne Nutter (R) arrive to speak to the press on January 11, 2019 in Gordon, Wisconsin. Nutter, walking her dog near the cabin she owns with her husband Forrest on January 10, encountered missing teenager Jayme Closs out of nearby woods. Getty Images

Signs welcoming Jayme Closs back are displayed on Friday, January 11, 2019 in Barron, Wis. Douglas County officials found 13-year-old Jayme Closs on Thursday near the northern Wisconsin town of Gordon. Jayme had been missing since Oct. 15, the same day her parents, James, 56, and Denise, 46, were found shot to death in their home outside Barron. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The sign outside the Barron City Hall Friday welcomes Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed. Closs was found Thursday in a rural town about an hour from her home. Star Tribune

Jayme didn't want anything to eat or drink, but she was cold and wrapped herself in the blanket Kasinskas offered.

Overall, she was calm and able to talk, Kasinskas said.

“She’s a traumatized child. I believe she was just maybe in shock,” Nutter said.

Community's prayers answered

News of Jayme's escape was an answer to their prayers, members of the Barron community said Friday.

Steve Lykken, president of the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, where Jayme's parents worked for years, said people there were “overjoyed” at Jayme’s return.

“We are still mourning the loss of longtime Jennie-O family members Jim and Denise, but our entire team is celebrating with the community, and the world, that Jayme has been found,” he said.

Lykken added that Patterson was employed by the turkey processing plant for one day nearly three years ago. Patterson quit the next day, saying he was moving from the area.

“He has not been employed with Jennie-O since then,” Lykken said.

Diane Tremblay, superintendent of Barron Area Schools, called Jayme "an extraordinary young lady.”

"It has been 88 days of hope for her safe return; 88 days of prayers for Jayme, her friends, our students, staff and community; 88 days of holding onto the faith that our authorities would never give up," Tremblay said at the news conference.

This file photo of an undated image released by the Barron County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin shows 13-year-old Jayme Closs. Closs was found alive, the Barron County Sheriff's Department announced on their Facebook page on Jan. 10.(Photo: HO, AFP/Getty Images)

Less than 24 hours after the news broke that Jayme had been found alive, businesses and local churches around Baron posted signs saying, “Welcome home, Jayme.

Gordon is about 40 miles south of Lake Superior and about 65 miles north of Barron, Jayme’s hometown. The town is home to about 645 people in a heavily forested region where logging is the top industry. During the winter, many homes are left vacant.

Neighbor Daphne Ronning said Patterson's parents moved to a home in the area about 15 years ago and that Patterson, who authorities said had no previous criminal history, and his brother were raised there.

Elizabeth Smart, an outspoken advocate on kidnapping after her much publicized captivity in 2002 shook the nation, called the news of Jayme's safety a "miracle" on Friday.

Smart posted on Instagram: "What a brave, strong, and powerful survivor!!!! No matter what may unfold in her story let’s all try to remember that this young woman has SURVIVED and whatever other details may surface the most important will still remain that she is alive."

Jayme's disappearance, which drew national attention, was shrouded in mystery. Although police authorities received more than 2,000 tips, they had few leads.

At about 1 a.m. Oct. 15, police received a 911 call that led them to the Closs home, where Jayme's parents were found dead from gunshot wounds. Jayme was missing and there weren't any solid leads on her whereabouts. Hours later, local authorities said the girl was in danger and asked the public for help finding her. An Amber Alert was also issued.

Since then, authorities and missing persons groups had been looking for Jayme.